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This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by editorial page staff and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Congressional Picks



          1st District: Darren White — We are going to ask voters to set aside the attack ads of the last few weeks and the partisanship of the last eight years, to instead focus on the dedication and work ethic needed to represent them as a freshman in Congress. The candidate who has proven he has both is Darren White.
        The Republican is conversant on the big issues facing our nation, from the economy (create jobs and cut taxes) to energy (put everything on the table to ensure independence) to the war (pressure Iraq and get U.S. troops home). But his life of public service shows he does more than talk — he makes his own decisions and will hit the D.C. ground running.
        White served in the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division. He pounded a beat as a street cop. He served in a governor's Cabinet as secretary of Public Safety. He's been elected Bernalillo County sheriff twice and delivered a responsive and responsible department. And the epitome of how he operates lies in his response to Hurricane Katrina. White didn't defend or bemoan the federal response; he waded in, leading a team to help survivors.
        As sheriff, he says, "You deal with people's problems. At the end of the day you need to solve them."
        Voters should elect White's experience and character to tackle the country's problems in Washington.
        2nd District: Edward R. Tinsley III — Tinsley and his father put together their Flying W Diamond Ranch "a piece at a time," and the Capitan Republican promises to use that same care in ensuring New Mexico's large and diverse 2nd Congressional District is well represented in Congress.
        Educated as an accountant and licensed to practice law in Texas and New Mexico, Tinsley left bean-counting and the bar to start a restaurant business. So he understands the rewards of making a living off the land, the importance of balanced books and a fair legal system and the challenges inherent in running a small business. And while he knows much of being a congressman is about "how you can connect with your constituents," he emphasizes that just as important is "how you can communicate with 434 members of Congress" to ensure they understand "New Mexico deserves respect."
        Tinsley emphasizes he's solution oriented, from his ideas about the economy (he's "against privatizing profits and socializing losses") to his prescription for health care ("get somebody who's after a solution, not job security") to his goal of energy independence ("find more, use less, invest in future technology"). He says if elected he will put his "core convictions into play with how to come to compromise — we don't need a winner and a loser; there can be a winner and a winner."
        Voters should send Tinsley's convictions and leadership to Washington to find that middle ground.
        3rd District: Ben Ray Luján — There is a reason Luján dominated a tough, six-way primary battle for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. House seat in the 3rd Congressional District. Luján won 41 percent of the primary vote because he is a good fit for the district.
        Back when the war in Iraq was the No. 1 issue on voters' minds, Luján was calling for an end to it — just like most northern New Mexicans. When the top issue switched to high gas prices and U.S. dependence on foreign oil, Luján favored renewable energy development over oil drilling. While that tends to track thinking in much of his district outside the Farmington area, he will need to be open to a "do it all" energy policy so essential to the nation's security.
        A member of the Public Regulation Commission, he is on track with his suggestion that the national research laboratories should play a leading role in wind and solar energy technology.
        Now, of course, the top issue is the economy.
        With home values collapsing and job security shaken, the district needs an advocate in Washington who will be able to work with the House majority from Day One.
        The Journal endorses Ben Ray Luján for the job.